Stackable and nestable container

Abstract

A container includes a base and conically formed, hollow corner columns that project from the base and are open on the underside of the base. Corner columns of another, structurally identical or compatible container can penetrate into the hollow corner columns of the container from the underside of the base, so that the two containers can be nested. The corner columns can be closed by a slide element so that the container can be stacked on the corner columns of the other container. A side wall projects from the base and is open on the underside of the base. The sidewall is between two corner columns such that a side wall of the other container can penetrate into the side wall from the underside of the base to nest the two containers. The side wall and the corner columns can be closed at the base by a slide element.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container configured to be stackable and nestable with a second container constructed identically to or compatible with the container, the container comprising:
 a base having a base underside; and   corner columns that are conically formed and hollow, the corner columns being open on the base underside and projecting from the base,   the corner columns configured to receive corner columns of the second container by insertion from the base underside of the container to nest the container with the second container,   the container comprising at least one sidewall that projects from the base, the at least one sidewall being double-walled, conically constructed, and open on the base underside,   the at least one sidewall configured to receive a second sidewall of the second container by insertion from the base underside of the container to nest the container with the second container, and   at least two of the corner columns of the container and the at least one sidewall being closable at the base underside with at least one slide element to facilitate stacking the container on the corner columns of the second container,   the at least one slide element being movable towards a center of the container to a first position and movable away from the center of the container to a second position,   the base and the at least one sidewall comprising at least one recess,   the at least one recess forming a stop at the base when the at least one slide element is positioned in the first position, and   an actuating element of the at least one slide element being positioned at least partly inside the at least one recess in the first position, and being actuatable from inside the container via the at least one recess.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element is mounted on the base underside and displaceable parallel to the base underside. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one slide element is displaceably mounted within a base rim projecting from the base underside. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one slide element is displaceable between the stop at the first position and a stop at the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element is actuatable from outside the container via a recess in the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element is movable inwardly from outside the container via the at least one recess in the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element comprises an underside and a profile or indentation on the underside, the profile or indentation corresponding to a geometry of the corner columns and/or of the at least one sidewall,
 wherein the container is prevented from slipping sideways relative to the second container when the container is stacked on top of the second container.   
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the corner columns comprise a first corner column, a second corner column, a third corner column and a fourth corner column,   the at least one sidewall comprising a first sidewall between the first corner column and the second corner column,   the at least one sidewall further comprising a second sidewall between the third corner column and the fourth corner column,   the at least one slide element comprises a first slide element and a second slide element,   the first corner column, second corner column and first sidewall being closable at the base underside by the first slide element, and   the third corner column, fourth corner column and second sidewall being closable at the base underside by the second slide element.   
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein the container has a rectangular shape with a first short side, a second short side opposite the first short side, a first long side, and a second long side opposite the first long side, the first long side comprising the first sidewall, and the second long side comprising the second sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall comprises gripping handles. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock the at least one slide element in the first position or in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the corner columns and/or the at least one sidewall comprise at least one stop that prevents the corner columns of the second container from being inserted completely into the corner columns of the container, or prevents the second sidewall of the second container from being inserted completely into the at least one sidewall of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base, the corner columns and the at least one sidewall are integrally manufactured by injection molding. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall has reinforcing geometries in order to increase stability of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcing geometries are beads or indentations and elevations. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slide element is releasably attached to the base without using tools. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a plastic container. 
     
     
         18 . A container configured to be stackable and nestable with a second container constructed identically to or compatible with the container, the container comprising:
 a base having a base underside; and   at least two first sidewalls that are conical, double-walled and open on the base underside and that project from the base,   the at least two first sidewalls configured to receive second sidewalls of the second container by insertion from the base underside for nesting the container and the second container,   the at least two first sidewalls each being closeable with at least one slide element so that the container is stackable on the second sidewalls of the second container,   the at least one slide element being movable towards a center of the container to a first position and movable away from the center of the container to a second position,   the base and the at least two first sidewalls comprising at least one recess,   the at least one recess forming a stop at the base when the at least one slide element is positioned in the first position, and   an actuating element of the at least one slide element being positioned at least partly inside the at least one recess in the first position, and being actuatable from inside the container via the at least one recess.